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In case I haven’t mentioned this before, I get bored easily. This is why you will always see a variety of jewellery in my collection – I obsessively make one thing for a week or two, before moving onto something else – usually practising or learning a new skill or technique.

Since I am currently waiting for the post lady to come and replenish my stock of sterling, copper and brass wire, I was at a loose end this evening. I have some new wire designs I’m dying to use for another line of jewellery, but as I know what I want to do and don’t have the wire for it, I’m in limbo.

The only relatively thick wire I do have is a coated copper wire roll from Spotlight. I don’t intend to use this for the jewellery I sell, as I like to use raw copper so that it colours naturally over time.

So – I decided to experiment! I’ve seen some chainmaille around, and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to give it a go.

So, I used my copper wire to make some jump rings, and moseyed off through the big wide web to find some help.

I saw a few helpful bits and pieces, and managed to make this tonight – (please excuse the bad photos – my camera has gone AWOL, so I’ve had to resort to using the webcam!)

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Chainmaille Bracelet

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Bracelet and workspace...

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Chainmaille closeup

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Chainmaille back and clasp

The clasp in the last photo was handmade by me, too – out of regular copper. You can also see that the jump rings are a little rough – as I was experimenting I didn’t bother to make sure both ends of each ring were flat.

I’m really happy with how this turned out – I think I may have to practice making more chainmaille – and some of the different weaves are just amazing. It does take a lot of patience, though…

Have any of you made chainmaille? Or would you like to? Would you buy chainmaille jewellery?

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